Alzheimer's Warning Signs

Living With Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Warning Signs

Many individuals may wonder why it would be wise to gain as much knowledge as possible about Alzheimer's warning signs. This article hopes to not only answer that question but arm the reader with at least a little understanding about the disease and the symptoms that go with it.

The baby boomers are beginning to reach an age which is considered elderly. Since in most instances Alzheimer's is a disease that effects people 65 years of age and older, there will without a doubt be a large increase in the number of Alzheimer's cases in a very short period of time. After all, elderly baby boomers will soon make up around a third of our population. For this reason it is very important that we all understand and are able to spot early Alzheimer's warning signs. Since a huge percentage of our population will soon be 65 or older it is very possible that it could effect any of us at any time and we should all be prepared to make any medical decisions that may come out way.

Dementia is a term used to describe a group of medical conditions that are known to cause a deterioration in the ability of the brain to function properly. Alzheimer's is the most common form of this disease and it can result in problems with language skills, memory loss and even result in emotional problems.

Although there are a large number of people who die yearly from Alzheimer's, the life expectancy once it is diagnosed can be as much as 15 or 20 years according to how fast the disease progresses and what kind of treatment they are receiving. However, it is still important to report any Alzheimer's warning signs in order to stop further progression.

In a normally healthy brain there are signals traveling along the nerves in the form of electrical impulses. I am unable to go into medical detail in this short article, but basically these electrical impulses are essential for the brain to function properly. They are responsible for a number of things including language, memory, problem solving skills and even involved in controlling our movements.

When an individual contracts Alzheimer's the nerve cells in the brain slowly die off and the brain can actually shrink. Since the body can not replace these nerve cells memory and the thinking process will get progressively worse.

Unfortunately at this time there is no known cure for Alzheimer's but there are treatments that can slow down its symptoms and give the patient a much better lifestyle. Better yet, the government and medical companies do understand the gravity of the situation and there is a huge amount of research going on even as I write this article.

It has been found that the sooner an individual with Alzheimer's is diagnosed and treated the better the results will be. For this reason we should all be familiar with some of the Alzheimer's warning signs so that early medical treatment can be provided that will hopefully slow down the symptoms.

Below are a few Alzheimer's warning signs you may want to watch for in yourself or others

1 – Changes in Personality – Many times a person getting Alzheimer's will have a noticeable change in their personality. They may start being fearful or anxious when not in a familiar situation and at times show signs of being confused and suspicious of people.

2 – Memory Changes – One of the most notable Alzheimer's warning signs is forgetting recently learned information or events and dates which were at one time very important to them.

3 – Difficulty in Completing Tasks – It is not unusual for an individual in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's to have problems completing tasks that were once very simple to them. At times they may forget the location of a place they have been many times and need to ask directions on how to get there. On occasion they may even forget where they were going.

4 – Concentration Problems – Sometimes an early Alzheimer's warning sign is being unable to concentrate long enough to do things that were once very simple to them such as balancing their checkbook, following a familiar recipe or keeping track of when their bills are due.

5 – General Confusion – One trait of Alzheimer's is being confused about things that are happening in the past or even the present. At times they may even forget where they are and how they got there.

6 – Repetition of Thoughts – One of the most familiar Alzheimer's warning signs is the repetition of thoughts while conversing with others. They may ask the same question a number of times in a short period. Usually they are asking questions they should know the answer to. They may also pause in the middle of a conversation because they have lost their train of thought concerning the subject.

7 – Poor Judgment – It is not unusual with someone in the first stages of Alzheimer's to start making bad decisions. This could be a problem when dealing with their finances.

There are other Alzheimer's warning signs but those listed are some of the most noticeable. If you or someone you care about is showing a number of these signs it would be a good idea to call for a doctor's appointment. The earlier a diagnoses is made and helpful medications are administered the slower the disease will progress.

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